6 Vie For The Top Honors

This year's group of candidates for Daily Press male and female Athlete of the Year honors reads like a national who's who of high school sports.

Since the awards were originated in 1989, no group of candidates has generated as much national recognition collectively as this contingent that would make an excellent cast for Young Guns III.

The nominees include two Parade Magazine basketball All-Americans, both on the first team, and one the national female Player of the Year; two national scholastic indoor track champions, one named the male Athlete of the Year; and one three-sport standout, a second round choice of the San Francisco Giants in Major League baseball's annual June draft.

The male candidates are Allen Iverson, who led Bethel to state football and basketball championships as a junior, Giants' draftee Macey Brooks, an all-Peninsula District selection in football, basketball and baseball for Kecoughtan and another Kecoughtan senior, Tony Wheeler, the national scholastic indoor record holder in the 200 meters.

The female nominees are Phoebus senior basketball phenom La'Keshia Frett, the all-time state career scoring leader, her Phantoms' classmate Tonya McDuffie, the national scholastic indoor triple jump champion and York High senior Ardra Samuel, a track, volleyball and basketball standout.

The Daily Press male and female Athletes of the Year will be named Monday night at the newspaper's annual spring banquet at the Radisson Hotel in Hampton.

Iverson has already gleaned Daily Press football and basketball Player of the Year honors. He accounted for 2,204 yards total offense as a quarterback. He scored 21 touchdowns and passed for 14 more. A safety on defense, Iverson intercepted eight passes.

In basketball, he propelled the Bruins to a school record 28 victories from his point guard position. Iverson averaged 31.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 9.2 assists. He broke Moses Malone's 20-year-old state single season scoring record with 948 points.

``Allen is a catalyst in that he brings out the best in his teammates,'' Bethel football coach Dennis Kozlowski said.

``He creates things you can't coach,'' said Bethel basketball coach Mike Bailey. ``I watch him do things and then wonder how in the world he does them. He's unbelievable in both sports. Giving effort is what he's all about.''

Says area basketball maven Boo Williams: ``Allen is a big time point guard and there aren't many of those around even in the pros.''

University of Georgia signee Frett also produced record numbers. She scored 3,284 career points and the Phantoms were 110-8 in her four seasons.

Frett, a 3.0 student, averaged 32.9 points, 16.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.0 steals as Phoebus came within two victories of defending its state championship.

``She's a better person than she is a player,'' Phoebus coach Mike Tallon said. ``There will be an adjustment period for her at Georgia, but she will be a starter and a factor before her first season is over.''

Brooks signed a football scholarship with James Madison University after earning all-Eastern Region status at wide receiver. His 23 receptions were good for 441 yards and eight touchdowns.

In basketball he was the Warriors leading scorer with a 15.7 average. He was a second team all-Peninsula District selection.

Brooks capped his impressive year with a baseball season that sparked frequent visits by professional scouts to Kecoughtan.

He hit .403, knocked in 32 runs and had five home runs among his 31 hits for the 21-1 Warriors. He also used his 6-foot-5 frame to cover a lot of ground quickly in the outfield.

Now he must decide whether to sign with the San Francisco Giants or go on with his James Madison football plans.

``It looks like I'm going to JMU in August,'' Brooks said Thursday. ``The Giants' offer wasn't what we had hoped for. I'm planning to play baseball there, too.''

He will play for the East team in the July 15 Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star foootball game at Darling Stadium.

McDuffie's future plans include continuing her education and track career at Norfolk State.

She triple jumped 38-10 to win that event at the National Scholastic Indoor Meet last March in Syracuse.

That set the stage for the finest state Group AAA outdoor championship meet of her career two weeks ago. McDuffie won the long jump and triple jump, anchored the winning 1,600- and 400-meter relay teams and finished third in the 200, leading the Phantoms to the team title.

``She's one of the best multiple event girls in the country,'' veteran Denbigh coach Raymond Pollard said. ``She should really excel at the next level in the jumps. She has also shown the stamina to compete in the pentathlon.''

Wheeler could also be a force at the next level as a sprinter for Clemson University.

He set the record for the 200 meters at the National Scholastic Indoor Meet in March with a 21.29 clocking. That effort earned him national indoor Athlete of the Year honors from Track and Field News.